The beginning of January usually brings us cold temperatures, especially if you live in the Midwest like myself. This leaves many people wanting something warm and delicious like a big bowl of soup. There are plenty of simple healthy soup recipes to try for the new year. But rather than share a laundry list, here are just four nutrient-packed soup recipes to kickstart the new year on a healthy foot.
What is So Special about Soups at the Start of the Year?
January usually gives us cold temperatures. So cuddling up in a warm blanket and a hot soup does sound appealing to a lot of us. Another great thing about making a nice batch of soup is that it’s very budget-friendly. A lot of the ingredients in a soup are already in your cabinet and you don’t have to spend too much money on other ingredients. A delicious soup also doesn’t take up too much of your time to make. You could also meal prep plenty of healthy soups in minutes by doing the following things.
How to Meal Prep These Healthy Soups
One of the first things you must do to prepare your hearty, healthy soups is to cook in batches. Making large quantities could help you save a lot of cooking time. Be sure to buy more of your key ingredients to be ready to make a larger pot. Some people like to cut the vegetables or herbs ahead of time and store them in containers. This could be a good idea in helping you cut the time it takes you to cook the soup. If you want to preserve the taste and quality of your soup, consider putting leftovers in airtight containers and freezing them in portions.
When you’re ready to eat leftovers of your soup, it’s vital to reheat them safely. The best option for most soups is to reheat them in the pot on the stove. In some cases, you can also heat them in the microwave. For soups with a meat broth or that are clear, be sure to bring to a boil for three minutes to kill off any harmful bacteria. But only do this for soups that still smell like they could still be eaten. Be sure to do away with soups that no longer smell too good.
4 Nutrient-Packed Soup Recipes You Must Try
Now let’s highlight the best nutrient-packed soup recipes you must make as we start the new year. These soups are packed with plenty of vegetables, protein, and other nutritious ingredients you need to feel full and healthy for the rest of the day. There are plenty of healthy soup recipes online, but these four are a great way to get started making some.
Vegan Carrot Soup
This vegan-friendly soup is not only light on calories but easy to make. You can add some Yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoes to make this soup mildly sweet. No need to peel those carrots before dumping them in the pot. Just clean them well and them along with the broth and the potatoes. This Vegan Carrot soup will only take you 20 minutes to make.
Turkey Vegetable Soup
If you’re looking for another healthy soup to warm you up, try this Turkey Vegetable Soup. If you have some leftover turkey you’ve already made, consider dumping it in the pot with some carrots, celery, onions, dried herbs, orzo, spices, canned tomatoes with chiles, and chicken bouillon. You can choose to leave out the orzo pasta if you want to keep this soup low-carb. This soup is perfect for a wholesome light lunch with a salad.
Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup
This 100% plant-based soup is what you need to make to kick off your year the healthy way. Just start this Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup with a vegetable stock made with plenty of leeks, onion, and glutamate-rich ingredients. This soup also doesn’t have a lot of ingredients and you can make it only 35 minutes.
Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry Soup
I’m already a fan of butternut squash soup. But I must check out this other version with chickpeas and yellow curry seasoning. This soup is like a meal in a bowl with the earthy sweetness of butternut squash, the nutritious heartiness of the chickpeas, and the aroma of the curry. It even has Swiss chard in the soup. Be sure to try this soup out when you have the chance.
Tips to Know for Making Healthy Soups
When making nutrient-packed soup recipes to kickstart the year, there are several important tips you must know. Having nutrient-rich ingredients such as vegetables, legumes, and lean protein could really encompass a fragrant, delicious soup. Some people also choose to make their low-sodium broth instead of buying their own. Consider limiting cream and butter in your soup. Instead, opt for coconut milk or blended beans. Add herbs and spices for more flavor instead of salt.
Making simple healthy soups doesn’t have to take up a lot of your day. They could be done in a half hour or less with these four recipes. So kick off this new year right with these nutritional, delicious soups.
Do you know of any nutrient-packed soup recipes to kickstart the year? Perhaps you may know of some vegetarian soup ideas for a fresh start in January. Feel free to share your favorite nutritional, healthy soups in the comments section below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next cooking fan you know.
